Magnetic display device



May 31, 1949. LE ROY E. SEIDERS MAGNETIC DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1946 INVENTOR. u: ROY E. 7:12.5 'I'TORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC DISPLAY DEVICE Application February 2, 1946, Serial No. 645,105

8 Claims.

This invention relates to advertising and display devices, and more particularly to display devices of the animated type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, yet highly dependable, display device which includes a movable attention attracting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device having a movable attention attracting member which is adapted to be suddenly swung upwardly from a horizontal plane into a vertical plane and then after a predetermined period of time dropped back into the horizontal plane from which it was moved.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a display device having the hereinabove described characteristics, and wherein the movable attention attracting member is not positively attached, by linkages or otherwise, to its supporting surface.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an advertising device having a movable attention arresting member associated therewith which may be readily replaced by other attention arresting members without the use of tools, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an advertising device which combines both visual and audible attention arresting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an advertising device which is adapted to be provided with spot advertisements, such as may be made up by individual proprietors without requiring the use of expensive advertising agency facilities.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device having the hereinabove described characteristics and which is easily portable, thereby making it ideally adapted for window and counter display use.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of my device, with parts being broken away for clarity of detail, with the indicia bearing attention arresting member in an upstanding, attention arresting position.

1 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the attention arresting member in a lowered horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken thru a modified form of device which embodies the details of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit used in operating my device.

With reference now to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the device comprises, broadly speaking, a base member I0 which may, if desired, be rectangular in form and include side panels I I, front and rear panels I2 and I3, a bottom panel I4, and an upper panel I5. Panels II, I2, I3 and I4 may be fabricated from any suitable material having the required strength characteristics for an advertising display device, however, top panel I5 is fabricated from. a sheet of non-magnetic, nonconducting material, such as glass, transparent or translucent plastic, or the like.

A movable attention attracting member I6 is mounted upon top panel I5, for rocking movement from a non-operative, lowered horizontal position (Fig. 3) to an upstanding attention arresting position at substantially right angles thereto, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Member I6 may be fabricated from any suitable non-conducting material such as cardboard, plastics, or the like, and may be provided with suitable advertising indicia as disclosed.

The lower edge of panel I6 is provided with one or more armatures I'I fabricated from a metallic, or other conducting material.

With reference now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that armatures I1 have been fabricated from a length of material formed to provide a rear leg I8 interconnected with bottom leg I9 by a rounded bearing surface 33 and an inclined front leg 20.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the included angle between rear leg I8 and bottom leg I9, is greater than degrees by an amount suiiicient to provide a positive rearward overbalance to the display panel I6, which may be secured to and. carried by the rear leg I8 of armature I'I, whereby said panel will normally fall rearwardly, (see Fig. 3) from the raised position of Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Panel I 6 may be secured to rear le s 18 of armature IT by means of rivets, suitable adhesives or the like.

An electromagnet, denoted generally by the numeral 2| is provided for each armature I'I, said magnets being disposed beneath panel l5, and in alignment with said armatures, as clearly disclosed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The electromagnetic characteristics of magnet 2| are such that bottom leg [9 of armature I! will be attracted downwardly toward said magnet incident to its energization, for moving the display panel [6 from the lowered, non-operative position indicated in Fig. 3 to the upstanding, attention arresting position, disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Preferably, though not necessarily, I provide means for illuminating display panel l6 during those periods of time when it is disposed in an upstanding position. Such means may comprise an incandescent tube, denoted generally by the numeral 25 (Figs. 4 and 5).

In order to provide intermittent operation to my device, I utilize an automatic make-andbreak switch 26 (Fig. 5), which may, if desired, be of the type which includes a bi-metallic element which will alternately make and break an electric circuit to electromagnets 2| and lamp 25.

In operation, the advertising panel 16 will be rapidly moved from a lowered, non-operative, substantially horizontal position, to a raised, attention arresting, vertical, position each time electromagnets 2! are energized accompanied by an audible buzzing sound. The buzzing sound is a function of the frequency of the alternating current used to operate the electromagnets, and is quite effective for audibly attracting the attention of the purchasing public in the immediate vicinity of the device.

Experimentation has conclusively proven that no physical connection isrequired between armatures I! and top panel or electromagnets 2|, said armatures being maintained adjacent to their respective electromagnets by means of the magnetic field established by said magnets.

New advertising display material may be associated with armature IT, or a proprietor may have several different interchangeable display units made up in advance for operation with a given base member 10. In order to change the advertising material. it is only necessary to pick up the display panel being used and to place-another panel on top panel IS with armature members I! in substantial vertical alignment with electromagnets 21.

With reference now to Fig. 4, it will be observed that front leg of armature 1'! has been extended rearwardly toward rear leg 18 and then bent upon itself as at 36 to'provide a space or slot for the reception of the lower edge of a display panel 46, which, when forced downwardly will be firmly squeezed between the adjacent faces of rear leg !8 and bent portion 36 of inclined leg'2ll.

If desired, front panel l2 maybe provided with suitable advertising indicia 3| thereby enhancing the advertising value of the device.

While I have illustrated but one display panel having two armatures I'l secured thereto, it should be understood that several smaller display panels may be utilized, each one having one or more armatures secured thereto which maybe energized by a plurality of electromagnets operating simultaneously or sequentially. When operated sequentially the attention arresting characteristics of the various display panels is greatly enhanced.

It should be understood that various. changes in the structural details of the device may "be made, within the scope of the appended claims,

4 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

By way of example, the display panel I6 may, if desired, be fabricated integral with rear leg l8 of armature H, in which event the display panel will also be metallic.

It should be also understood that rearward overbalance of the display panel may be accomplished by providing the required overhang to display panel [6, in which event the included angle between the rear and bottom legs may be What is claimed is:

1. A display device comprising a supporting surface, a display panel, a substantially L-shaped armature secured to said panel with one of its legs in the plane of said panel, said panel and armature freely supported on said surface and rockable between two normal positions for disposing said display panel in a lowered position in the plane of said supporting surface or at substantial right angles thereto, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic means, for imparting a cyclic raised and lowered motion to said display panel.

2. A display device comprising a substantially fiat horizontal non-magnetic, non-conducting supporting surface, a display panel disposed upon said supporting surface, said panel comprisinga piece of non-conducting sheet material having one or more substantially L-shaped armatures secured to its lower edge, each of said armatures including a rear leg to which the sheet material is attached and a bottom leg disposed at an angle thereto sufficient to insure a normal condition of rearward overbalance of the display panel, said rear and bottom legs interconnected by a rounded bearing surface, said armature being rockable about said rounded bearing surface between two normal positions for disposing one or the other of said legs in the plane of said supporting surface for disposing said sheet material in a lowered, inoperative position in the plane of said supporting surface or in an upstanding, attention arresting position at substantial right angles thereto, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and aligned with said armatures, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic means for imparting a cyclic raised and lowered motion to said display panel.

3. A display device comprising a supporting surface, a non-magnetizable display panel, an armature including a front, rear and bottom leg wherein said rear and bottom legs are interconnected by a rounded bearing surface and are spaced apart by an included angle sufiicient to insure normal condition of rearward overbalance of a display panel carried thereby, said front leg extending upwardly and rearwardly from said bottom leg toward and terminating short of said rear leg to provide a slot for the reception of the lower edge of said display panel, said armature being rockable between two normal positions for disposing either said rear or bottom leg in the plane of said supporting surface for disposing said display panel in a lowered, inoperative position in the plane of said supporting surface or in an upstanding, attention arresting position at substantial right angles thereto, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and aligned with the bottom leg of said armature when said leg is disposed in the plane of said supporting surface, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic means for imparting a cyclic upstanding and lowered motion to said display panel,

4. A display device comprising a non-magnetic, non-metallic translucent supporting surface, a display panel, an armature secured relative to the lower edge of said panel and in a plane at substantially right angles relative to the plane of said panel, said armature and panel freely supported upon said surface and rockable between lowered and upstanding positions, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and in alignment with said armature, means disposed beneath said supporting surface for illuminating said panel when in upstanding position through said surface, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic and illuminating means for imparting a cyclic raised and illuminated, and lowered non-illuminated sequence to said display panel.

5. A display device comprising a substantially flat horizontal non-magnetic, non-conducting supporting surface, a substantially L-shaped armature including rear and bottom legs interconnected by a rounded bearing surface, said legs being spaced apart by an included angle sufficient to insure a normal condition of rearward overbalance of said armature, said armature being rockable between two normal positions for disposing either said rear or said bottom leg in the plane of said supporting surface, and electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and aligned with the bottom leg of said armature when said bottom leg is in the plane of said supporting surface.

6. A display device comprising a substantially flat horizontal non-magnetic, non-conducting supporting surface, a substantially L-shaped armature including rear and bottom legs interconnected by a rounded bearing surface, said legs being spaced apart by an included angle sufficient to insure a normal condition of rearward overbalance of said armature, said armature being rockable between two normal positions for disposing either said rear or said bottom leg in the plane of said supporting surface, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and aligned with the bottom leg of said armature when said bottom leg is in the plane of said supporting surface, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic means for imparting a cyclic raised and lowered motion to said armature.

7. A display device comprising a substantially flat horizontal non-magnetic, non-conducting supporting surface, a substantially L-shaped armature including rear and bottom legs interconnected by a rounded bearing surface, said legs being spaced apart by an included angle sufilcient to insure a normal condition of rearward overbalance of said armature, said armature being rockable between two normal positions for disposing either said rear or said bottom leg in the plane of said supporting surface, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface and aligned with the bottom leg of said armature when said bottom leg is in the plane of said supporting surface, and means for intermittently energizing said electromagnetic means for imparting a cyclic raised and lowered motion to said armature, said armature producing an audible buzzing sound during those periods of time when said electromagnetic means is energized.

8. A display device comprising a supporting surface, a display panel, a magnetizable element secured relative to the lower edge of said panel and projecting forwardly at substantial right angles from the major plane of said panel, electromagnetic means disposed beneath said supporting surface, and means operable for energizing said electromagnetic means, said panel adapted to lie flat on said supporting surface durin those periods of time when said electromagnetic means are deenergized and to be swung upwardly about its lower edge into a plane at substantial right angles relative to said supporting surface during those periods of time when said electromagnetic means are energized for attracting said magnetizable element into the plane of said supporting surface.

LE ROY E. SEZIDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,092 Bachmann May 22', 1877 706,463 Smith Aug. 5, 1902 1,424,350 Gale Aug. 1, 1922 1,947,920 Primrose Feb. 20, 1934 1,465,753 Angel Aug. 21, 1923 

